B Chy skeptical about fair polls

United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka |
Updated at 01:19am on April 16, 2018

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on Saturday expressed his doubt about a free, fair and neutral election for the government’s ‘illogical and anti-democratic steps’.‘Following the government’s irrational and anti-democratic steps, people are in doubt whether all political parties will be able to take part in the general election or a free and fair election will be held,’ he said while addressing a discussion at his party’s Kuril Biswa Road central office marking Pahela Baishakh, the first of Bangla New Year 1425.B Chowdhury said, ‘The country’s democracy-loving people cannot but panic for the way human rights and democracy are shrinking in the country. There’s no security of life. Today I’m here but don’t know whether I’ll be alive tomorrow. Many call it a police state. The doubt will remain in people’s minds until democracy is restored.’Speaking on the occasion, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, ‘Over the past 47 years, Bangladesh has turned into a country of hijackers, looters and killers. There’s no democracy here, but only power grabbers. Those who protest the grabbing of power become victims of repression.’A vow to fight for democracy, people’s welfare and a welfare country should be the oath of the new year, he said.BDB central leaders Mahbub Ali, Md Yusuf, Beg Mahtab, Hafizur Rahman Jhantu, Wasimul Islam, Jubo Dhara president Obaidur Rahman Mridha, general secretary Asaduzzaman Bachchu and Sramik Dhara president Ainul Haque also spoke at the programme.